GUWAHATI: Rescue operations continued through Saturday morning, May 2, at Bargi Dam, with teams, including the Army, combing the waters for survivors. Efforts briefly paused on Friday morning after the recovery of the eighth and ninth bodies—a woman found holding her four-year-old child in her arms, underscoring the human toll of the tragedy.
The victims were identified as 39-year-old Marina Massey and her four-year-old son Trishaan, who had travelled from Delhi for a vacation. Rescuers reportedly noted that both were wearing life jackets, but the child remained tightly held against his mother.
The incident occurred on Thursday evening when a river cruise boat, carrying approximately 35–40 passengers, capsized in the Bargi Dam reservoir near Khamaria Tapu. According to reports, the vessel, Narmada Queen, overturned around 6:13 PM after being caught in a sudden storm. Strong winds and high waves destabilised the boat, causing it to lose balance and sink.
Nine people have been confirmed dead, while several others remain missing.
Marina Massey was travelling with her family, including her parents, Julius (70) and Madhu Massey (62), her husband Pradeep Kumar Verma (39), and their children Siya (14) and Trishaan. Marina, her mother Madhu, and her son Trishaan were among those who did not survive.
Eyewitnesses reported that passengers had raised alarms and urged the crew to return to shore as the weather worsened, but their warnings were allegedly ignored. The boat continued drifting before capsizing.
Local residents rushed to assist in rescue efforts, using ropes to pull some passengers, particularly those wearing life jackets, to safety. However, many others drowned.
Authorities have reportedly raised concerns over safety measures, noting that it remains unclear why there were no designated life jackets for children on board.
Meanwhile, a widely circulated photograph depicting a mother embracing a young child has gone viral on social media, with claims linking it to the tragedy. The image, shared across platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and X, was presented by many users, including public figures, as a visual from the incident.
However, the Jabalpur District Administration has dismissed these claims, clarifying that the photograph is unrelated to the Bargi Dam accident. In an official statement issued on Friday, authorities stated that the image is either artificially generated or taken from an unrelated context.